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IDENTITY
I am in my 80th year and live in a country in which I feel increasingly unsafe. The Australia of my youth has been lost not for the better of most but to their cost. The primary culprit is the political class whose naked pursuit of office has much diminished this country.
Where are the Menzies, Calwells, Boltes, Whitlams and Hawkes who wanted to make this country better for all? Instead, we continue to be led by a class of weak-kneed, self-interested and amoral people focussed on their own needs.
I feel far less safe than I did in my youth and see loss of both the concept of social cohesion and the practice of community all around me.
I believe migration is neither a major national problem, nor the solution. The real problem is our wishy-washy politicians who stand for nothing more than themselves when they stand for office in this once fine country.
And we let them! Our politicians nakedly encourage entitlement without obligation amongst all groups they court as they divide and conquer us.
So when I hear talk of Australian values I want to cheer.
Barry Ferguson, Parkdale
Barnaby Joyce’s ability to change beliefs
Going through some papers, I was rather bemused to find an article I cut out from The Age dated 25 March, 2017, by Amy Remeikis, with the headline “Islam is a disease, says Hanson”.
The reading of this article confirms the many commentaries since of Hanson’s intransigent view, one might even say abhorrence, of migrants of different nationalities.
Though her unwavering stance on migrants is not surprising, the comment from the then deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, that Hanson’s comments were “bat poo crazy”, reminded me how some politicians change tack when it comes to their political careers.
For Barnaby Joyce to align himself with Pauline Hanson when he previously thought her comments were “just stupid, it was plain dumb” smacks of opportunism.
Eva Millane, Box Hill North
Heroes found wanting remain in our national story
Peter FitzSimons’ interview with Matt Anderson has left me more confident that our history is being well respected, at least by the Australian War Memorial. (“Ben Roberts-Smith, frontier wars and the Balibo Five: Inside the revamped war memorial”, 19/4).
There are populists, motivated by their personal beliefs, who seek to elaborate their view of what constitutes historical truth and in so doing would tear down and cancel what doesn’t fit comfortably. Where there is ambiguity and inconsistency we need to include that in the narrative, even if it is done in retrospect.
We should put a high value on provenience and authentication and not let mythology dominate our understanding of the past and how that fits into the present, and perhaps give shape the future. Where heroes have later been found wanting, that becomes part of the story, not to delete it all from any further analysis and understanding. Otherwise, the understanding of our history could easily end up being shaped by proselytisers for their own ends.
Clyde Ronan, Yarrawonga
Migrants make this country work
According to ABS figures, Australia has about twice as many people born in other countries than the United Kingdom or United States (our 31.5 per cent of the population in 2924 compared to about 15 per cent each in those two countries).
Australia actively recruits people from other countries to fill gaps in our workforce. Migrants are a force for good in Australia. Without them, this country could not function.
Doris LeRoy, Altona
THE FORUM
Religions a force for good
Your correspondent’s claim that religion has been the primary cause of most wars (Letters, ″Religious wars continue apace″, 18/4) is a distorted portrayal of history. While it is true that some conflicts have had religious dimensions, wars are most often driven by political power, territorial ambition, economic interests, or ethnic tensions, and on balance, religions have been overwhelming forces for good.
They have inspired movements for social justice, civil rights, the abolition of slavery, and humanitarian reform. Most of the world’s earliest hospitals, schools, and charitable institutions were founded by compassionate religious communities. Religious teachings have provided ethical frameworks that promote forgiveness, generosity, and care for the vulnerable – values that advance social cohesion. Most importantly, religion has given meaning and hope to billions of people, fostering resilience in suffering and encouraging community life across cultures and centuries. Religions, like any human institution, have their failures, but in terms of history they have played deeply constructive roles in shaping moral vision, community care, and human wellbeing.
Bryan Long, Balwyn
When resentment rules
I think your correspondent (Letters, “Trump the mirror”, 19/4) sums up the essence of what makes a MAGA movement. Those people with “bitter resentments” about those in society that some may consider “elites” based on their level of education or experience who have deeper insights into particular issues and whose views necessarily hold a greater weight when developing public policy. We are seeing in America what happens when those with such bitter resentments are handed the levers of power.
I only hope that Australia can observe and learn from this terrible situation and understand that we must do better.
Julian Guy, Mt Eliza
Pliable Australia
President Trump’s unhinged diatribes, criticising Australia for not rushing to join him in his attack on Iran may indicate a troubling shift in expectations within the ANZUS alliance. It suggests that Trump no longer views us as a sovereign partner with independent strategic interests, but rather through a “Gurkha lens”.
The British valued the Gurkhas for their “first-in” reliability. Trump’s ungratefulness implies a similar expectation for Australia: That we should function as an obedient “pliant force” for American interests, regardless of our own priorities.
For more than a century, Australia has joined every major US conflict, often in unpopular wars far from our shores. If our dependability has transitioned from a shared democratic purpose into being automatic military fodder, we are no longer an ally but merely a standby asset.
The government is right to resist this “Gurkha” expectation; an alliance that demands blind obedience participation in USA conflicts treats us as a vassal rather than a partner sharing common values.
Carlo Ursida, Kensington
Plain violence
Re ‴Cases that stay with you forever’: They see women killed by violence, and this is what they want you to know,” 19/4. One of the forensic pathologists quoted, Dr Paul Bedford, said: “Gruesome, horrible things are tolerated. (Violence against women) is almost acceptable in Australia. That’s where, to me, the real problem is: cultural attitudes”.
The view the majority of males, and women, in Australia are effectively indifferent towards violence against women is wrong. The continual “cultural” barrier to constructive steps by sections of the public against the appalling conduct of some men towards women is to keep applying the terms “domestic” or “family” violence. It’s been a shield violent men can hide behind for far too long. It has to go.
Des Files, Brunswick
Domestic terrorism
Dr Paul Bedford’s summation of ″cultural issues″ as underlying the epidemic of violence against women in this country is the reality check we need. There are far too many ″males who think they have rights, and their duty as a man is to control women″ of which they have been socialised to believe.
To redress the underlying ″cultural problem″ there must be the right messaging by the legal system from the get-go, across civil, family and criminal law jurisdictions. UK criminal behavioural analyst Laura Richards argues that we should treat domestic abusers and stalkers just as seriously as we treat terrorists.
Jelena Rosic, Mornington
Staying silent
″Why are you protecting him?″. This question sits with me even today, about 30 years after my then-husband was attacking my oldest child. Physically, as well as emotionally.
Why do we as a culture keep quiet about these things?
Name and address supplied
Duck shooting ban
A change in policy to ban duck shooting in Victoria could well make the difference for Jacinta Allan in Bendigo East in the November election (″Battle for Bendigo East: Inside the race that could upend the Victorian election″, 18/4).
This improvement in conservation policy would be welcome, return campaign supporters to the ALP, and bring Victoria into line with WA, NSW, Queensland, and ACT.
Malcolm Cameron, Camberwell
Original seed
The gentle folk of Warrnambool would be proud to show your correspondent (Letters,″Lone Pine growth″, 19/4) the Lone Pine descendant proudly flourishing in their Botanic Gardens, grown from the seed of a cone brought back from Gallipoli by Keith McDowell of the 23rd Battalion which was the original propagation for the other three he mentioned. It was planted on the 21 January, 1934, and has survived as a poignant symbol for future generations,
Susie Holt, South Yarra
Myki behavioural change
The Victorian government’s decision to extend free public transport by one month and half fares for the remainder of the year is no doubt good news for many doing it tough in these difficult times.
Is it too much to ask, then, that before we return to full-fare tickets that our government conduct an awareness campaign to remind passengers of the requirement to tap on—even those on concession or children under 18, who can benefit from free travel with a Youth myki?
Not only does tapping on validate their journey, but it also raises revenue and collects important statistics of passenger movements to better plan services.
The generous reduced-fare period could be promoted as a final grace period ending with a no-tolerance position on fare evasion. All train, tram and bus operators should be held responsible for enforcing fare compliance, with their reward being a share of myki revenue based on the number of validated passengers who ride their services.
Who knows, but we might even see the return of Melbourne’s tram conductors who would justify their wage by collecting otherwise lost revenue.
Peter Myers, East Melbourne
Protection over performance
The AFL must find out who in the Carlton Football Club (“Blues to explain why Hollands played”, 18/4) seemed to prioritise performance over safety by letting Elijah Hollands play.
In other high-stakes fields like medicine, aviation, or business, if someone is clearly unwell or impaired, they’re immediately taken out of the situation. They’re not just kept an eye on or managed, they’re removed altogether. This is because the risks are too high, not just for the individual, but for everyone around them. We owe it to our athletes to put their wellbeing first, and that means prioritising protection over performance when it counts.
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, Hawthorn East
Raising robust children
Re ″Skipping camp, public speaking: How schools have it wrong on kids″, 19/4. In 1985. Alf Collins received two of Australia highest bravery awards, the Star of Courage and the Royal Humane Society of Australasia award for bravery for saving his father from certain death while being attacked by a wild boar.
Alf beat the beast over the head with a lump of wood. He was nine years old. When asked the secret to raising such a brave, resilient child, Alf’s father said the two most important things to give a child are love and adversity.
″If you give them plenty of adversity they’ll build their own courage and character, and if you give them love they’ll dust themselves off very quick,″ he told me when I was interviewing him for a book on Australian heroism. Wise words for parents and schools who seek to protect children from any uncomfortable experiences life throws at them.
Xavier Duff, Brunswick West
Sesquipedalian review
Cameron Woodhead’s review of the novel The Season for Flying Saucers by Brendan Colley (18/4) included the fancy word ‘paterfamilias’ to describe the father. However, he states the father is estranged and leaves an adult son behind, who would be the actual paterfamilias, or male head of the family household according to the definition of the word.
There’s a tendency for literary reviews to use sesquipedalian and grandiloquent language (see what I did there), but trying to sound wordy and erudite betrays the intent when unnecessary, and particularly when inapt.
Jayson Argall, Northcote
French elan
Re Your correspondent’s letter (″More than history″, 19/4). I agree with nearly all his list of French virtues particularly fashion and gastronomy, but humility is a bit hard to swallow.
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn
AND ANOTHER THING
Trump world
Someone needs to remind JD Vance – reputedly a conservative Catholic – that the Pope is infallible.
Patrice McCarthy, Bendigo
Your correspondent (Letters, 19/4) is right that we must be glad Trump is not here. The main problem is that he’s not all there.
Juliet Flesch, Kew
With apologies to Monty Python. Donald: ″Leo, I am the saviour of the world″! Leo: ″Donald, look, you are not the messiah, you’re just a very naughty boy″.
Jack Morris, Kennington
Who’s blackmailing whom? The US president says ″Iran can’t blackmail us″ over the Strait of Hormuz while he simultaneously maintains a blockade of Iran’s ports. I suppose it’s all just part of the ″Art of the Deal″.
David Brophy, Beaumaris
If the organisers of ″America reads the bible″ had a sense of humour, Donald Trump would not have read from 2 Chronicles 7, but Exodus 20. It includes such gems as ″Thou shall not kill″, ″Thou shall not bear false witness″, etc. Oh well, maybe next time.
Greg Smith, Caulfield South
Whether releasing the Epstein files, negotiating peace in Iran, deploying ICE agents, or in its rhetoric about the transgender community, the Trump administration does with Machiavellian, cynical, bad faith.
Russell Brims, Bentleigh East
Furthermore
The $10 billion for the Australian warships being built in Japan appears redundant before they are constructed. Missiles and drones will make them obsolete before they are even commissioned.
Scott Ramsay, Kennington
The ″Australian values″ immigration doctrine being pushed by Angus Taylor et al is only skin deep.
Bill King, Camberwell
Finally
Selling the Commonwealth Bank, Qantas, Telstra, shipping and other government assets hasn’t avoided government debt.
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
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